Drive-chain



(Modem J. M. DODGE.

DRIVE CHAIN.

No. 255,949. Patented Apr. 4,1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT DFFI E.

JAMES M. DODGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,949, dated April 4,1882.

Application filed January 30, 1882. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES MAPES DODGE, ofChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains; and I do herebydeclare that the following is .a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,'1naking partof this application.

My invention relates to that species of detachable drive-chains in whichthe end bar of each link that serves as the pintle of the hingejoint isdivided or has its continuity broken by an open space near the middle ofthe end of the link; and my invention has for its main objects toimprove the construction of this species of chain by. first, avoidingthe liability of the side bars of each link to bend or spring apart inthe vicinity of the ends adjoining the dividedend bar; and, second, bycompensating for the reduction of the bearing-surface of the pintle ofthe joint usually occasioned by the use of a divided end bar.

To these main ends and objects my invention consists in the novelfeatures of structure in the link and chain which I will hereinaftermore fully explain. and which will be hereinafter more specifically setout in the claims of this specification.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my improved link andchain, I will now proceed to more fully explain the construction andoperation ofthe same, referring by letters to the accompanyingdrawings,in which- Figure l is a plan view of a chain made according tomy invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but of the opposite side of thechain. Fig. 3 is an edge view. Fig. etis a similar view, showing theopposite edge of the chain, and also showing the relative position intowhich two links must be turned to permit an uncoupling of them.

In the several figures the same part will be found designated by thesame letter of reference.

a, a are the side bars of the link and b bis the divided end bar, whichforms the pintle where two links are hinged together. This divided endbar has, so to speak, extensions b at either side of the link, asclearly shown. That end of the link which is opposite to the divided endbar is continuous, and is formed with a coupler-hook, c, which, in lieuof being open all along, as some coupler-hooks are, is bridged over ata, so that the device is for the greater part of its length an opencoupler and for the rest of its length a hinge-like eye, theentirelength of the device 0 0 being very nearly equal to the distancebetween the inner surfaces of the side bars, a a, of the link.

At the same end of the link where the coupler device 0 c is located aretwo other coupler devices,eand f, one of which,e,isacircular eyearranged at one side of the link, and the other, f, an open narrow hookarranged at the other side, all as clearly shown. The spaces between theeye 6 and one end of the devicec c and between the hook f and the otherend of c c are such as to permit the free Working in them of the sidebars of another link, and the width of the bridge-piece at c is suchrelatively to the cut-out of the divided end bar, b b, that said bridgewill easily pass through the said cut-out. When a series of such links,as shown, are coupled together, as illustrated, the divided end bar ofone link works pintlelike in the three coupler devices oftheadjoininglink, one of the portions 1) working in the open part andthe other of the portions b in the annular part of the device 0 0 whileone of the extensions 1) works in the eye 6 and the other in the openhook f; and so long as the articulated parts of the chain are in aworking relative position these parts are inseparable and work as ifthey were permanently hinged together; but when any two adjoining linksshall be turned out of a working position and into the relationshipshown atFig. 4, then by moving one link sidewise 0f .the chain, asindicated, for instance, by the arrow at Fig. l, the links maybe easilyseparated by thus bringing the cut-out of the divided end bar in linewith the bridge-piece c and then lifting the pintle-like devices of onelink out of the coupler devices of the other link.

It will be seen that in a chain' composed of such links, as shown, anyspreading apart of the side bars, a a, is efi'ectually prevented,because they are bound or held in their proper relative position by theeye 6 at one side and the open hookfat the other side of the adjoininglink. The device 0 c, which works in between the bars a a, insures themagainst any undue crowding together. By bridging over the maincoupler-hook at c said device is rendered stronger, and by thecombination with said main coupler of the auxiliary laterally-arrangedcoupler devices 0 and f, I am enabled to use the divided end bar tofacilitate uncoupling and reeoupling, and at the same time have thecoupled links held together even more durably than in that kind of chainin which the continuity of the end bars is not broken. The actualbearing and wearing surfaces of the pintle-like devices are as great asorgreater than those of an unbroken end bar, while by the arrangement,as shown, ofthe bridge cat one end of the long main coupler and theannular device or eye 0 nearest to the other end of said main couplertwo annular and conse-' quently very durable and strong coupler devicesare formed, one near each side bar of the open-ended link.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A chain-link formed at one end with a divided end bar and lateralextensions 1) thereof, and provided at the other end witha main couplerdevice, 0 partially open and partially closed, as specified, and twoauxiliary coupler devices, one at either side of the link, and the twoin line with the main coupler.

2. A'detachable chain composed of duplicate parts, each of which is alink having a (livided end bar at one end and three coupler devices, 0a, e, andf, at the other end, substantially as set forth.

'In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of January,1882.

JAMES M. DODGE.

In presence of-- T. S. FAUNTLERQY, GLENN G. HOWE.

